Term limits held off to next meeting

Kudos to Dave Kaskel, assistant deputy of Department of Public Works, who worked for the village just under 31 years, and was recognized after Bellport’s public hearing. Kaskel is retiring and moving to upstate New York to start a shelter for farm animals.

“We want to see great Instagrams from you,” said mayor Maureen Veitch.

The hearing to consider a resolution allowing a 12-year term limit for the mayor and village trustees instead of 10 years won’t be voted on until the next board meeting on Tuesday, May 28 (that Monday is Memorial Day).

Veitch commented that anyone running in the upcoming election would run on a two-year term. The proposed resolution affects terms in 2025.

After village attorney Lisa Perrillo explained the amendment—that a trustee or mayor could serve four years for three consecutive years—residents weighed in on the proposed amendment.

Sherry Binnington commented that her concern was on the length of time. “Why not two terms for eight years?”

But Marc Rauch questioned if the wording of the overall limit of how long a mayor or trustee could serve was reflected in the resolution with a break in between.

Attorney Perrillo said village code only allows serving for a total of 25 years.

Trustee Michael Young admitted his ambivalence on the 12-year term. “Everyone knows I’ve been all over the place on this issue. Given the choice, I think 10 years is about right. But I’m finally landing on 12 years. Having said all of that, Marc [Rauch] stressed a good point. When it comes to voting, I’m against this language but okay for the 12-year term.”

Perrillo said she would circulate a new draft of the proposed law with more specific wording.

An audit report presentation of financial statements and supplementary information for fiscal 2023 by Jennifer Ditta of Cullen & Danowski revealed a glitch with American Tower and that company’s refusal to provide a qualified report. The village rents space for cell towers from American Tower and there are sub leases. Fifty percent of the income from the leases goes to American Tower and 50 percent goes to the village, explained Ditta. Basically, Ditta asked, is the village collecting everything you’re supposed to.

Mayor Veitch explained that the village treasurer, Darcia Palmer, has tried repeatedly to get a qualified report from American Tower; the village will pursue a legal approach.

Trustee Young summed up the audit after thanking Ditta; the village needs to get a qualified report from American Tower—with a restatement from the prior era, the village got it wrong. Ditta explained it had to do with the FEMA dock project. “We were told you would be short about $200,000,” she said. With budget management and approvals, there were purchase orders written up without approvals; purchases of $1,000 or more needed approval, but those issues had decreased every year. There were issues with passwords not being changed on a regular basis regarding computer controls.

Veitch said again she submitted grants that would enable digitalization of records and cybersecurity.

There were other audit comments: requiring more than one person in the golf course shop to take inventory; no one could locate the capital assets policy with new standards; and closing out the American Express and Home Depot cards and opening up new accounts.

Veitch related that some of the issues are already being tackled.

Auditor Ditta said there were no disagreements with the management of the village and that everyone participated with their requests. Basically, there were no glaring glitches.